Chargers offense has glue in Hardwick

Nick Hardwick plays large role in offense's early success

San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick, left, celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Philip Rivers in the Houston game. With the Chargers playing two games in five days, Hardwick said the Chargers are fortunate to be playing a familiar foe in Denver so soon after today's Giants game. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick, left, celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Philip Rivers in the Houston game. With the Chargers playing two games in five days, Hardwick said the Chargers are fortunate to be playing a familiar foe in Denver so soon after today's Giants game. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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There are skill-position veterans playing, in some cases, arguably the best football of their careers.

But maybe the most overlooked aspect to Philip Rivers' fast start this season is the man the Chargers quarterback calls "the glue" to his offensive line. He hasn't left Rivers' side.

Nick Hardwick is not the most heralded Charger, but in the locker room, he is considered among the most important. Since the start of the 2011 season, the center is one of 20 players to start on San Diego's offensive line. He is the only one in that span not to have missed a game.

In the past two games, the Chargers have played nine different players on the offensive line because of injuries. Two players have played left tackle, and three players have rotated at each of the left guard, right guard and right tackle positions.

Only one man has played center. Only Hardwick.

"I've always described him as the glue that holds the group together," said Rivers, who entered the league with Hardwick in 2004. "I know from my standpoint, I believe in Mike Harris, in (Johnnie) Troutman, in Rich (Ohrnberger) and (Steve) Schilling — all four of those guys. But knowing Nick is in there helps with that as well.

"I already believed in them, but when I know Nick's in there, it gives me a little more peace. I'm like, 'All right. Those five are going to know what to do.'"

One man cannot be credited for how the offensive line has endured this difficult stretch.

Hardwick, 32, made sure of that.

He deflected any and all credit, redirecting it toward his teammates and O-line coaches Joe D'Alessandris and Andrew Dees. The coaches ran a rotation of reps in practice this offseason to simulate the scenario where players would have to play multiple positions, developing their versatility.

While all that is true, Hardwick understates the significance of his communication before the snap.

Troutman made his first career start last week. He said he was at ease, not having to think much, knowing Hardwick would put him in the right position.

"He's off to a heck of a start with the way he's been playing," Rivers said. "That's why there is so much more to it than just being able to block 'em or shade or block the Mike. There's way more to it than that — way more to it. Obviously, he's doing that a high level, but there's more to it than that. That, to me, is the reason he's so valuable. It's not just what he does physically. It's what he does mentally.

"We've had a lot of disarray the past few years, ... and he's kind of been the constant. I think that's why we've been able to get through it all."